Stilio/Morphology: Difference between revisions

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Parseltongue uses a system of [[grammatical case]]s similar to [[Latin]] or [[Wikipedia:Estonian language|Estonian]].  [[Person]], in Parseltongue, is conflated with [[Wikipedia:Demonstrative|demonstrativity]], [[Wikipedia:Deixis|deixis]], and [[Wikipedia:Honorifics (linguistics)|honor]]Nouns and verbs are not marked for [[number]] or gender.  There are four [[Wikipedia:noun class|noun-classes]].  Verbs also divide into four declensions.  Verbs have no [[tense]], only one of two [[aspect]]s.  Verbs have complicated forms for independent [[clause]]s and simple forms for dependent clauses.  Independent verbs ''must'' be marked for [[Wikipedia:Evidentiality|evidentiality]], although it is often metaphorically.  There are two additional [[mood]]s: [[Wikipedia:Imperative mood|imperative]] and [[Wikipedia:Illocutionary act|illocutionary]].
Words in Parseltongue are mostly broadly definable as nouns, verbs, and postpositionsMost adjectives and adverbs are derived from verbs, though a few come from pronouns.


== Case ==
== Nouns ==
There are four "core" cases - '''Nominative''', '''Accusative''', '''Agentive''' and '''Patientive''' - and five "oblique" cases - '''Dative''', '''Possessive''', '''Partitive''', '''Genitive''', and '''Ablative'''.  The core cases interact with lexical aspects of the verb to distinguish the subject and object.  A few verbs take Dative, Partitive, or Ablative objects.
 
=== Core ===
All verbs have a lexically contained expectation for which case the subject will be in.  Hence, all verbs are active or passive and volitional or non-volitional by default, which will also indicate which paradigm it follows.  When given an unexpected case, intentionality or casuality is signified:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|
! Active Non-Volitional
! Passive Non-Volitional
! Active Volitional
! Passive Volitional
|-
! Nominative
| Involuntary Agent
| Involuntary Cause
| Unintentional Agent
| Unintentional Cause
|-
! Accusative
| Direct Object
| Descriptive
| Unintentional Patient
| Pseudo-Passive Object
|-
! Agentive
| Agent!
| Cause!
| Ergative Subject
| Intentional Cause
|-
! Patientive
| Intentional Direct Object
| Pseudo-Passive Agent
| Absolutive Object
| Stative
|}
 
=== Oblique ===
The oblique cases function generally like [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] cases, but with some notable exceptions.
; Dative : Some linguistics prefer to call this the "[[Topic-prominent language|topico]]-dative" because it can function similarly to the Japanese は/wa, or the Korean 는/은.  These instances are typically best translated as "in regards to" or "as for".  Otherwise, the Dative is often equivalent to the English prepositions "to, for, by, with, from" and/or indicates the Indirect Object.
''The other four cases fall under the '[[Genitive case|genitive]]' rubric in many languages''
; Partitive : Like the Uralic languages, the partitive means "some of" or "part of" or "any".  It can also be used for the object of an atelic actions or sensing/perceiving verbs.  'Half of my possessions’; ‘some of the branches’; ‘the poor among of the people’, 'partake of my meal', 'I saw some of him'.
; Possessor : Like the English ''''s'''.  This is the subjective genitive.  "Love of God" would have to mean (in this case) "God's love", not "my love for God"
; Genitive : This can be Epexegetical or Attributive/Descriptive.  e.g. "the horcrux of his body", "words of wisdom (i.e. wise words)"
; Ablative : Objective Genitive, "concerning, against, about, on, from", separation, adverbial
 
== Person ==
Parseltongue has an unbelievable ''eight'' persons:
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Name
! Person
! Demon.
! Time
! Discourse
|-
! -1
| Negative
| No one
| None
| Never
| Nothing
|-
! 0
| Indefinite
| Someone/anyone
| Some
| Some time
| Something
|-
! ½
| Dim. Proximal
| "Royal We"
| This (dim)
| Any second now
| This (already mentioned, dim)
|-
! 1
| Proximal
| I
| This
| Now
| This (already mentioned)
|-
! 1½
| Mesioproximal
| We (you and I)
| This*
| "Just now"
| This (forthcoming)
|-
! 2
| Mesiodistal
| You
| That
| Then
| That
|-
! 3
| Distal
| He/She/It
| Yon
| "That time"
| That (previously mentioned)
|-
! 4
| Obviative
| Him
| Other
| "That other time"
| That (other previously mentioned)
|}


Notice, however, that "token-reflexive" deixis is not possible in Parseltongue.  A snake could not say, "This is my apology," but would have to say, "I apologize (illoc.)" (i.e. '''\aloqæmadassa''')
== Nouns ==
The definite article is a prefixed /s/, while indefiniteness is marked in the verb.
=== Pronouns ===
=== Pronouns ===
'Measure words' can also be used as pronouns, with or without numbers attached.
'Measure words' can also be used as pronouns, with or without numbers attached.




{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 1st person
|+ 1st person
! Case
! Case
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|-
|-
! N
! N
|  
| madd
|  
|  
|-
|-
! A
! A
|  
| madæ
|  
|  
|-
|-
! A
! A
|  
| maddi
|  
|  
|-
|-
! P
! P
|  
| madda
|  
|  
|-
|-
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|-
|-
! P
! P
|  
| madvv
|  
|  
|-
|-
! P
! P
|  
| madad
|  
|  
|-
|-
! G
! G
|  
| madux
|  
|  
|-
|-
! A
! A
|
| maddwa
|  
|  
|}
|}
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|-
|-
! N
! N
| '''gasas'''
| gass
| tzoægasas // You fell.
|  
|-
|-
! Acc
! Acc
| gasgg
| gassæ
| kxvgasgg // You are green.
|
|-
|-
! Abs
! Abs
| '''gassi'''
| '''gassi'''
| sayhagassi hœd / You (will) Leave him (alone)!
| sayhagassi hœd
|-
|-
! Pat
! Pat
| '''gassa'''
| '''gassa'''
| haceagassa cig / You (will) go away!
| haceagassa cig
|-
|-
! D
! D
| gassaas
| gasas
| to you
| to you
|-
|-
! Par
! Par
| '''gashh'''
| gasoo
|  
|  
|-
|-
! Pos
! Pos
| gasy
| gasad
|  
|  
|-
|-
! G
! G
| gas
| gasax
| /She is longer than you
|  
|-
|-
! Abl
! Abl
| '''gasswa'''
| '''gasswa'''
|  
|  
|-
! V
| '''gass'''
| / You who rattle, rattle!
|}
|}


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== Verbs ==
== Verbs ==
Verbs divided into four classes.  Verbs have no [[tense]], only one of two [[aspect]]s.  Verbs have complicated forms for independent [[clause]]s and simple forms for dependent clauses.  There are two additional [[mood]]s: [[Wikipedia:Imperative mood|imperative]] and [[Wikipedia:Illocutionary act|illocutionary]].


As with nouns, Parseltongue verbs do not mark number.  Tense is assumed or conveyed via adverbs.
As with nouns, Parseltongue verbs do not mark number.  Tense is assumed or conveyed via adverbs.


Aspect is either '''imperfective''' or '''perfective'''.  There are four mood: '''Indicative''' - for independent clauses; '''Subjunctive''' - for dependent clauses; '''Imperative''' - for commands; and '''Illocutionary''' - for magical or pronouncement/promissory clauses.  The subjunctive is very plain, conjugating only for aspect, but not person or evidentiality.  The imperative and conjugates for aspect and person only.  The illocutionary is always perfective and conjugates for person.
{| class="wikitable"
! Class
! Prefix
|-
! Active Volitional
| Ø-
|-
! Passive Volitional
| ha'-, /æ'-, /-
|-
! Active Non-volitional
| lv'-, l-
|-
! Passive Non-volitional
| yn'-
|}
 
=== Aspect ===
Aspect is either '''imperfective''' or '''perfective'''.  The English perfective is focused on the end of an action, while the imperfective is aimed at the middle.  The Parseltongue imperfective may be conative, inceptive, progressive, egressive, resultative or gnomic.  The Parseltongue perfective may be ingressive, constantive over the entire duration or most of it, perfect, or gnomic.


=== Evidentiality ===
In translation, context is most important, but a guiding principle may be "perfective is for the past, imperfect for the non-past".
All indicative/independent verbs in Parseltongue must be marked for evidentialitySnakes senses are (in decreasing order of assuredness):
 
; Taste/Smell : Snakes extend their tongues into the air/water and pull "smells" into their mouths, where their "noses" (Jacobsen's organs) are.  This gives them a ''very'' refined and directional sense.  Knowledge obtained this way is the most certain and so is most analogous to human's "I see" or "I know".
=== Mood ===
; Heat/IR : Snakes have special sensors where other animals' "noses" would be which detect heat or Infra-red radiation.  Snakes report not "seeing" a field - as humans do with sight - but "feeling" the nearness and/or warmth of thingsThis is most akin to a human saying "I feel like you are ..." or "I sense not everyone in the room agrees with ...".
There are four mood in Parseltongue, two Realis and two IrrealisThe '''indicative''' or '''independent''' mood is used for factual statements and positive beliefsThe '''iIllocutionary''' mood is for magical or pronouncement/promissory clauses (''see also [[Wikipedia:Illocutionary act]]''), actively making true what it saysThe '''subjunctive''' or '''dependent''' mood is for subordinate clauses, especially after modal verbsThe '''imperative''' mood is for commands but is also broadly for all deontic moods.
; Hear/Vibration : A snake's entire body functions like an "ear", sensing vibrations.  This knowledge is very accurate, but because it comes from their whole body (not just their head) it is more like "gut knowledge".  '''''Magic causes snakes internal ear to hear external speechOnly a Parselmouth magician may speak to a snake and be heard.''''' For the rest of us (Muggles and non-Parselmouth magicians) Parseltongue may be learned and spoken amongst ourselves only.
 
; Sight : Most snakes have poor vision, with a majority not being binocularThis mood is used metaphorically as a person would say, "I suppose" or "I guess".
The subjunctive is very plain, conjugating only for aspect, but not person or evidentialityThe imperative conjugates for aspect and person only.  The illocutionary is always perfective, conjugates for person, and is said to constitute its own evidentiality.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Perfective
|
! -1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1½ || 2 || 3 || 4
|-
! Smell
|-
! IR
|-
! Hear
|
|-
! Sight
|-
! Imperative
|
|
|
|
| -a
|
|
|-
! Illocutionary
|
|
| colspan="2" | -\a
|}


=== Perfective ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Imperfective
|
|
! -1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1½ || 2 || 3 || 4
! -1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1½ || 2 || 3 || 4
Line 253: Line 182:
|
|
|
|
| colspan="2" | '''\a-'''
|}
|}


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Parseltongue is "verb-centric" language.  Adjectives are often expressed via stative verbs in relative clauses.  There are a few, common, dedicated adjectives which must match the noun they modify in case and class.  These need not be anywhere near the noun they modify.  All known examples of this type seem to have evolved from stative verbs that have sense passed out of usage.
Parseltongue is "verb-centric" language.  Adjectives are often expressed via stative verbs in relative clauses.  There are a few, common, dedicated adjectives which must match the noun they modify in case and class.  These need not be anywhere near the noun they modify.  All known examples of this type seem to have evolved from stative verbs that have sense passed out of usage.


Adjectives can be substantive, making a verbal noun.  They must still, however, take a noun-class prefix.
== Adverbs ==
== Adverbs ==
There is no dedicated morphology to turn a verb into an adverb.  Instead, the relative clause is used in the ablative case.  When this matches something in the sentence, there is some ambiguity.
There is no dedicated morphology to turn a verb into an adverb.  Instead, the relative clause is used in the ablative case.  When this matches something in the sentence, there is some ambiguity.
Line 292: Line 221:
There are many dedicated adverbs in Parseltongue, all of which relate to "person".  Since "person" is such broad concept in Parseltongue, this can also mean directional, temporal, respectful or referential.
There are many dedicated adverbs in Parseltongue, all of which relate to "person".  Since "person" is such broad concept in Parseltongue, this can also mean directional, temporal, respectful or referential.


== Adpositions ==
== Postpositions ==
Most adpositions in Parseltongue are enclitic, that is, prepositionalA minority are postclitic, that is, postpositional.  Two are circumpositions.
There are a few prepositions, which seems to have derived from wordsThere is one circumposition.

Revision as of 20:09, 16 November 2012

Words in Parseltongue are mostly broadly definable as nouns, verbs, and postpositions. Most adjectives and adverbs are derived from verbs, though a few come from pronouns.

Nouns

Pronouns

'Measure words' can also be used as pronouns, with or without numbers attached.


1st person
Case Form Ex.
N madd
A madæ
A maddi
P madda
D madas
P madvv
P madad
G madux
A maddwa
2nd person
Case Form Ex.
N gass
Acc gassæ
Abs gassi sayhagassi hœd
Pat gassa haceagassa cig
D gasas to you
Par gasoo
Pos gasad
G gasax
Abl gasswa


Verbs

Verbs divided into four classes. Verbs have no tense, only one of two aspects. Verbs have complicated forms for independent clauses and simple forms for dependent clauses. There are two additional moods: imperative and illocutionary.

As with nouns, Parseltongue verbs do not mark number. Tense is assumed or conveyed via adverbs.

Class Prefix
Active Volitional Ø-
Passive Volitional ha'-, /æ'-, /-
Active Non-volitional lv'-, l-
Passive Non-volitional yn'-

Aspect

Aspect is either imperfective or perfective. The English perfective is focused on the end of an action, while the imperfective is aimed at the middle. The Parseltongue imperfective may be conative, inceptive, progressive, egressive, resultative or gnomic. The Parseltongue perfective may be ingressive, constantive over the entire duration or most of it, perfect, or gnomic.

In translation, context is most important, but a guiding principle may be "perfective is for the past, imperfect for the non-past".

Mood

There are four mood in Parseltongue, two Realis and two Irrealis. The indicative or independent mood is used for factual statements and positive beliefs. The iIllocutionary mood is for magical or pronouncement/promissory clauses (see also Wikipedia:Illocutionary act), actively making true what it says. The subjunctive or dependent mood is for subordinate clauses, especially after modal verbs. The imperative mood is for commands but is also broadly for all deontic moods.

The subjunctive is very plain, conjugating only for aspect, but not person or evidentiality. The imperative conjugates for aspect and person only. The illocutionary is always perfective, conjugates for person, and is said to constitute its own evidentiality.

Perfective
-1 0 ½ 1 2 3 4
Smell
IR
Hear
Sight
Imperative -a
Illocutionary -\a
Imperfective
-1 0 ½ 1 2 3 4
Smell
IR
Hear
Sight
Imperative
Illocutionary

To be at

Imperfective
-1 0 ½ 1 2 3 4
Smell
IR
Hear tsæ tsv sa
Sight
Imperative saa

Adjective

Parseltongue is "verb-centric" language. Adjectives are often expressed via stative verbs in relative clauses. There are a few, common, dedicated adjectives which must match the noun they modify in case and class. These need not be anywhere near the noun they modify. All known examples of this type seem to have evolved from stative verbs that have sense passed out of usage.

Adjectives can be substantive, making a verbal noun. They must still, however, take a noun-class prefix.

Adverbs

There is no dedicated morphology to turn a verb into an adverb. Instead, the relative clause is used in the ablative case. When this matches something in the sentence, there is some ambiguity.

There are many dedicated adverbs in Parseltongue, all of which relate to "person". Since "person" is such broad concept in Parseltongue, this can also mean directional, temporal, respectful or referential.

Postpositions

There are a few prepositions, which seems to have derived from words. There is one circumposition.